Below are recent letters from readers
sharing their views on issues which have been raised in this column. The
date and name of the column are in bold (with hyperlink to the
commentary) and the readers comments follow. Send us your comments
on a particular column or on any issue affecting single people and we will consider publishing them.

At the end of November
2006, the hopes and dreams of women, especially
mothers, to obtain a job with dignity and
respect in Pennsylvania, died on the steps of
the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as
a result of complete, deliberate and intentional
neglect by the committee chairmen of the Senate
Labor and Industry Committee and the House
Judiciary Committee who held the fate of SB440
and HB352 in their hands.

Despite public outcry from
women all over Pennsylvania and the United
States of America who signed petitions at
www.momsrising.org and other individuals who
called and wrote to these chairmen directly,
their pleas for these male lawmakers to bring
these bills to their committees for a vote fell
on deaf ears.

HB352 and SB440 from the
04-06 legislative session were predeceased by
HB65 and SB131 (02-04 legislative session) and
HB1718 and SB1261 (00-02 legislative session).
These bills added only TWO words to the 51 year
old Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. When
enacted, these bills would prohibit employers
from asking job candidates about their
marital/familial status during job interviews
(as is currently the law in 28 states).
Ironically, these questions are rarely if ever
asked to men during interviews. Women are even
paid less for their work because of having to
divulge their childbearing status during job
interviews.

Are the rumors that this is
a misogynistic state really true?

As I don my traditional
funeral attire and mourn for the loss of yet
another chance that women receive fair and equal
treatment in the workforce through updated
legislation, I ponder why the continuous
repression of women and their children?

HB352 and SB440 are
survived by women everywhere who believe in
equality and justice and are trying to provide
the best they can for their families. May our
legacy continue and our efforts quadruple next
session to get the next set of bills passed.

SOS-me membership is a massive undertaking which
has begun here in the United States and involves
the uniting of all single Americans who wish
(need, want, desire) to get out of isolation.
It is a huge task, but a necessary one
because online uniting and the services they
provide to isolated singles is a great step, but
needs the extra oomph of daily living.

The logo membership of SOS-me (Singled Out
Singles) identifies singles during every day
activities very much like the Susan G Komen
"pink ribbons" identifies cancer survivors or
their relatives. Our single logos invite
conversation between singles and make them part
of something bigger than themselves
during every day activities! It's
the beginning of a new "society of Singles" that
will channel all funds into donations to
organizations such as yours and singles in need
as individuals.

Can you become an affiliate and spread the word
about our cause? In return you can become a
funded affiliate and continue to help and
support singles in need everywhere.

Please check out our headquarters at
www.sos-me.com, our logo products and idea
and let me know if you can help the cause!
Please join in while SOS-me is still in it's
infancy because we hold your organization in
high regards. Thanks from the bottom of our
single hearts!

Thomas F. Coleman, Executive Director of Unmarried America, is an
attorney with 33 years of experience in singles' rights, family
diversity, domestic partner benefits, and marital status discrimination.
Each week he adds a new commentary to Column One: Eye on Unmarried
America. E-mail:
coleman@unmarriedamerica.org. Unmarried America is a nonprofit
information service for unmarried employees, consumers, taxpayers, and
voters.